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MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte will push ahead with China-backed projects even if the United States has blacklisted 24 Chinese state-owned companies involved in the massive recovery of Philippine-owned islets in the South China Sea.
These include the Sangley Point International Airport project, a joint venture between Lucio Tan’s MacroAsia Corp. and China Communications Construction Co. Ltd. (CCCC), one of the blacklisted companies.
CCCC’s subsidiary, China Harbor Engineering Co., is partnering on a $ 1.2 billion recovery project with the signing of mogul Dennis Uy, Duterte associate and largest campaign donor.
China Harbor will also partner with the richest family in the Philippines in a separate $ 1.86 billion recovery venture.
“The Sangley project will continue. The president declared last night that the Americans can enforce the blacklist of Chinese companies on their territory and bases under their jurisdiction, “said presidential spokesman Harry Roque at a press conference on Tuesday.
“The president was clear in saying that he will not follow the direction of the Americans, because we are a free and independent nation. We need investors from China, ”he said.
“So Sangley and all the other projects, regardless of who the Chinese contractor is, will continue. Our national interest is to ensure that the flagship ‘Build, Build, Build’ projects are completed, ”said Roque.
The Chinese ambassador in Manila, Huang Xilian, welcomed Malacañang’s decision to continue contracts with Chinese companies included in the US blacklist.
“The pragmatic cooperation between China and the Philippines has always been based on mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win results, and all projects are carried out in accordance with existing laws and regulations,” said the Chinese envoy. .
He said that the US sanctions on Chinese companies “under the pretext of protecting the South China Sea, seriously interferes in China’s internal affairs and aims to drive a wedge between China and regional countries.”
China has been aggressive in its expansion into the South China Sea despite a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated its nine-line claim and favored the Philippines’ claim over the Western Philippine Sea.
Opposition lawmaker Risa Hontiveros introduced a resolution in the Senate Tuesday to investigate possible collusion by Filipinos over China’s artificial islands.
“It is not difficult to suspect a dubious commitment from either party,” Hontiveros said.
Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla backs joint venture partner CCCC even after the latter was included on a US sanctions list.
In a statement, Remulla rejected calls from Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin Jr. to terminate contracts with Chinese companies included on the US blacklist.
“I met with the CACC officials and I believe in their sincere desire to invest and build a first-rate gateway to our beloved country,” Remulla said, referring to China Airport Construction Corp., which is part of CCCC.
–With a Reuters report
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